Valve-spring lifter for automobile and other engines



Oct. 2, 1923.

D. cLERlco VALVE SPRING LIFTER FOR AUTOMOBILE AND OTHER ENGINES FiledJan. 27. 1922 -nun mmm,

AToRNEY Patented Get. 2, 1923.

maaier DOMINCK CLEPt-CO, 0F YONKERS, NEVI' YORK.

VALVE-SPRING LIETER FOR-AUTOMOBLE AND uOTHER ENGINES.

Applicatien filed January 27,1922. serial ivo. 532,064. I

To all whom t may concern.'

vBe it known that I, DoMINroii CLnRIoo, a

citizen oi the United States, and a resident ot Yonkers, in the countyof lvestchesterand State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Valve- Spring Litter-s for Automobile andl OtherEngines, of which the following is a speciiication.

rthe invention resides in a tool of novel construction for use incompressing the valve-springs of internal combustion engines preparatoryto the removal of the valves, and one object of the invention is vtoprovide a tool of the class referred to which shall have a wide range otadaptability to engines varying in size and'forniation and be capable ofuse in compressing the valve springs thereot1 on the exercise oit aminimum degree of torce on the part of the'operator.

A further purpose of the invention is to prof vide a tool of the classreferred to which may be very conveniently and quickly operated and usedon valves regarded as more or less inaccessible to the usual commercialtypes of valve spring` litters or compressers. A further object of theinvention is to provide a valve spring tool of very durable constructionand composed of a few parts lacking in complexity and formed mainlyV offorged metal bars pivoted'together and affording jaw lmembers to engagethe valve and its spring and handle members so pivoted together and tothe jaw members as to render it entirely convenientJ to on the movementof the handle members toward each other, cause the jaw members toapproach'each other and iirmly compresstlie spring. The tool of myinvention also provides means for locking the jawsstationary when theyare engaged in holding vthe valve Aspring 'coin-y ressed and for uickbreleasinosaid -aws P e at the proper time so that the expansive 'orce ofsaid spring may automatically open said jaws to free the samefrom theAspring and valve.

` The invention will beV fully understoodv from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accom'- panyingdrawings, in which:v

F ig, l is a side elevation of a valve spring compressing toolconstructed in accordance v gine vbeing shown in section;

line 2-2 of Fig. l;

with and `embodying my invention, the tool being shown in operativeposition holding a valve spring of an internal combustion engine undercompression, a portion of' the en- F ig. 2 is a horizontal section, on-alarger scale, through the same, taken on the dotted F ig.A 3 is avertical transverse section, partly broken away, through the same, takenon the dotted line Sk8 of Fig. 2; v

Fig, 4 is a vertical transverse section, on a larger. scale, through thesame, taken on the dotted line 4 4: of Fig. 2;' j Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view of a portion of the same, taken on the dotted line 5 5 ofFig. l, and 1 j Fig. 6 is a side view of a modiied form of j iw-member.

In the drawings, 10, 1l, respectively, designate the upper 4and' lowermain jaw members of the tool and l2, 13, respectively, the

handlesV or operative members by which the jaws 10, ll be moved towardand from each other. The upper jaw member lOhas a horizontal portion14:, an inwardly eXtend- Ving right angular portion or approximatelyvertical member Mland a downwardly and rearwardly inclined member 16projecting from the lower end of the member 15, said members 14, l5, 16being formed from one integral iiat bar of metal.' Y

The opposite or, as shown, lowerjaw member ll, has an inwardly extendingoi'zjapproximately vertical right angle member 17 and an upwardly andrearwardly vinclined `member 18 projecting from the inner-end of saidmember 17; `The members'ld-lot the 'main jaws converge' rearwardlyvtoward each other and lie on opposed vequal angles and constitute leverarms whose motionis transomitted toandaccentuated in the inainfjaws l0,l1, whereby said jaws on a limited move.- m'ent of said lever arms are`causedto have an extendedl or widerange of? movement to wardand fromeach other.y The' handle bar l2 is pivotally connected with the memberv16 by a vpivot 19t` and is also, at its linner or forward end, connectedbyia pivot20 with the" innerV end or" the-handle bar 123.` The handlebar lis secured by av pivot 2i'to the jaw member 1S, and, as aforesaid,iscon- K Y i normali Y str nected by the pivot 20 with the handle bar12. .The converging members 16, 18 are connected together at their rearends by a pivot 22, and, as shown in Fig, 2, the pivots 19, 21 are atintermediate points in the length of the members 16, 18 and disposed ina plane centrally between the pivots 20, 22.

L Upon the handle bar 13 is secured, by a pivot 23, a segmental rack 24having at its shank end a tliumb-piecef25 and at its other end beingconnected by a spring 2Gwith the member 16 of the jaw l0'. Upon thehandle bar 12: is secured a loop 27 through which the rack 24 mayVloosely pass and whose forward inner edge serves as pawl to engage theteeth ofthe rack to prevent the separation of the. handles 12, i3 andjaws 10, 11, except when by pressure applied on the thumbpiece 25 therack is swung outwardly free of the forward end of said loop 27and inopposition to the forcel of the spring 26, which normally acts to pressthe rack 24 against Vthe forward end of said loop.

Y' The handles 12,13 Ynormally diverge rearwardly from their forwardpivoted-together ends, as shown in Fig. 1,*an'd by preference thesehandles will be constructed of steel in the formof dat bars and befurnished at their outer ends with wooden hand-pieces 4orcacin'gs 28.

10 has secured to the forward end of its horizontal member 14 ahead-piece formed with an internally threaded bore 30 to receive thevertical screw 31 carrying at its outer end Vfinger pieces 32 and at itsrinner end a pressuredisk whose upper portion is formed with asoeketfora ball 34 formed yon the lower .The upper jaw end. of the screw 31,.said socket and'said ball constituting .a ball-and-socket jointadapting. the disk 33 to yieldto irregularities of the valves with whichit may be placed into contact. l illustrate the disk 33 as being inengagement withY the topof a valve-35 of an `engine 36. rPhe screw 31permits of the adjustment of the disk 33 with respect tothe engineparts, and in Fig. 1 the screw 31. is shown as having been entered int-othe valve-casing of theengine so as toY carry thedisk 33 against theupper surface The valve 35 is upon the riff coi-led spring 38 which, asusualris ainedybetween. a washer 39fand a pin 2 restr Q40..A the latterbeine' removable from thevalve lsteinV after the pressure of the spring38 h oe'en releigis'edf from saidV pin.` The engine vparts,shoum vare'merely Villustrated and constitute no portion ofthe present inven-'lhefjrnain jaw member 11. comprises a forw' rdly'bent arm 41 integralwith. the member-17 and twoV bar members 42, v43 whose. rear ends areriveted to the said memiaeaies ber 41 at opposite faces thereof andwhich of fthe spring 38, as shown in Fig. 2, aV

washer 47 usually being provided at the lower end of said spring,

Figs. 2 and 3.

rlhe members 42,. 43 of the lower jaw 1.1

are capable of adjustment at their forward ends toward and from eachother so as to.

Csi

as illustrated in adapt the tool for springs 38 and valve stems 37varying in diameter and other characteristics, and as means foradjusting the members 42, 43 and holding the same in such adustment, lprovide the screw 48 which engages a threaded hole 49 in the member 43'and has a reduced end or threaded stem 50 extending freely through ahole 51m the member 42. Upon the stem 50 is applied al hemisphericalwasher and. la. nut 53, the washer 52 being provided to seat against therounded outer edges of the hole 51 and the nut 53 being utilized toengage the washer 52 and hold the same in position. The

arcuate side of the washer 52, with the free hole 51 and stem 50,permits of the adjustment of the jaw members 42, 43 toward and from eachother in an effective manner. The screw 48 will be equipped withlingerliolds 54v permittingit to be adjusted orY turned by hand, andatthe outer end of its body portion said screw is rounded` and abut-sagainst the bar member 42 at the hole 51, as Vshown in Fig. 4.

rThe purpose of the adjustment of the forward ends of the jaw-members42, 43 toward and fromeach other, isto adaptfthe tool7 at thepontions`45, 46'tliereof, for liandling springs 38 of thevaryingdiameters at` present employed on "the valve: stems of; internalcombustion l engines. The jaw-- members 42, 43 'constitute a forliadapted Vat its forward end to straddle the spring 38' and permit theYflanges or'seats 46 tobe forced lli) 'between the' washer 47 and cotterpin 40 at i the lowerend of said spring.V j c Thev forward .convergenceofthe handlebars 12,713 and the rearward eonve'r'genceo'f themembers16,18 of the jaws-10, 11, with the manner shown of pivotally?"connectingsaidv parts, resul'tsrin the jaws10, 1551 being moved inwardly or closedtoward each other when the rear Yportions-0fthe bars l2, 13

are pressed toward each otherandin said jaws 10, 11 opening outwardlywhen the outer-portions ofthe bars 12',rv 13'are turned outwardly or ina direction from eaci other.

rlhe forward portion of the handle-bar 12 Y are forced between thewasher 47 and cot-v ter pin 40 and the screwA 3l is lowered through thevalve-opening inthe engine casing to carry the dislr 33 against thevalve 35, and 4thereupon the handle'sare pressed in a direction towardeach other to act against'the jaws 10, 11, with the result that the disk33 is pressed firmly against the valve 35 and the jaw 11 compresses theVspring 38 upwardly against the bushing 39, leaving the pin 40 free to beremoved. After the pin 40 has been removed, the spring 38 is allowed toexpand and the Vtool isv removed from the engine, whereupon the valvev35 may be withdrawn for such attention it may require. After the valve35 has been restored to the engine, thetool may be einployed forcon'ipressing the spring 38 preparatory to the replacement ofthe Cotterpin 40 and then again withdrawnto allow the spring to expandagainstrsaid pin.

ln the assembly of the parts of the toolV l prefer to arrange the jawmember 16 and forward portion of the handle-bar 13 on the same verticalplane, and the jaw member 18 and forward portion of the handle bar 12 onthe same vertical plane, thereby equalizing the strains throughthe tooland producing an efiicient construction.

ln Fig. 6 I illustrate a modified shape of lower jaw-member, this newshape having an upward bend, as at 6G, to enable it to reach certainlocations in which the straight jaw members shown in F ig. 1 might notbe appropriate. 1 f

rEhe jaw-members 42, 43 are secured together and against a spacing block61 by rivets G2, and the rear ends of said jawmeinbers form a fork whichstraddles the forward end of the barportion 41 and are removably securedthereto by bolts 63. The

bolts 63 render the jaw-menib'ers 42, 43 detachable from the bar-member41, and this is important in permitting me to substitute differentshapes of jaw-members in the tool for the special shaped members shown,thus giving the tool a more universal range of usefulness. Thejaw-members 42, 43 may be handled as a unit, and hence it is entirelyconvenient to apply them to the lower forwardly projecting bar portion41, and the jaw-members 42, 43 are prevented from swiveling action dueto the bolts 631andthe flatcontacting surfaces of thebloclr 61 and j'the endof the bar-member 41.

T/Vhat I claim as my. invention anddesire to secure by Letters .1)atent,is I..

1.` Av tool for compressing a valve springV comprising upper and lower-jaws having-V inwardly extending portions 'and thence rearwardlyconverging members pivoted together at. their` rear ends, upper andlower handle bars whose forward portions .con-V verge and arepivoted'together at their forward ends and which portions cross the saidrearwardly converging members of said jaws and are pivoted thereto atcorrespoiiding points between the vertical planes of the pivot points atthe forward end of said handle bars and rearend of said jaw members,-

and a manually releasable rack for holding the handle bars Vinv theirclosed relation iiiopposition to the force of the valve spring, theforward end of the upper jaw .having means forV engaging the top ofthe'valve, andthe forward end ofthe lower jaw hav` ing seats to passbelow the valve springv and compress said spring when the handle barsare pressed in a direction toward each other.

2. A toolv for. compressing a valve spring comprising upper and lowerjaws hivingvinwardly extending portions and thence rear" wardlyconverging members pivoted togeth'er at theirrearends, upper and lowerhandle bars whose forward portions converge and*are'pivoted-togetherattheir forward ends and which portions cross the lsaid Y rearwardlyconverging meml ers of saidjaws and are pivoted thereto at correspondingpoints between l'the vertical pla-nes of the pivot points at the forwardend of saidL handle bars and reary end of said javi7 members, and amanually reieasabie rack for holding the handle bars in theirfclosedrelation in opposition to the force of the valve spring,

the forward end of the upper jaw having means for engaging the top ofthe valve, and Y' the forward portion of the lower jaw coiiilo` sistingof oppositely disposed spaced apart bars adapted to straddle the valveVspring and having seats to pass below said spring and compress the samewhen Vthe handle bars are pressed in a direction toward each other, saidspaced apart bars having means for setting them in adjusted relation toeach other wherebyto adapt the tool for springs vary-v ing in dia-meterand said means consisting of a manually operativescre'w cngagingvathreaded hole in 'one of said bars and having a reducedv `threaded endpassing freely through a 'hole in theother bar against which the bony ofthe screw abuts, a washeron said.

comprising upper and lower jaw members .125 reduced end engaging theouter face of said pressing. them. inv

eonneotedwtogether andfhaving means -for a directioil: toward eaeh otherfor compressingV thespring, 'the upper "jaw member havingon.. itsforward end vmeans to engage thertop of the Valve and Y (.l'ielower jaw.member comprising.'oppositely disposed spaced apart:- bars. adaptedtolstraddler the ValveV spring andv having seats no pass .below saidspring;y forY compressingV the saine and means for setting said; bars inadjust-ed. relation to each other, wherebytto Vadaptxthe tool forsprings varying: in diameter, and said means consisting` of amanuallyoperativescrew engaging' .a threaded hole infone of said hars and havingareduoed threaded end passing; freely through aV hole inv the other baragainst which Jche body o'lihe crew ahuts,.a washer on" said reducedjend engaging the outer face of. said other har and'. a nult'ongsaidendv engaging saidwasher.

d. L tool for compressing. a valve spring comprising uppeil and lowerjaws'haylngrnwardly exbending portions and thence`l rear- `wardvlyeonverging members pivotedv to-V gether at their rear ends, upper andlower vhandle bars whosey forward port-ions` Converge and are pivoedtogether al'tlieir lor- Y Vward ends and which. port-ions cross che saidrearwardly' converging members of said. .Jaws

LAhandle bars and rear endof said jaw 1nenibers, andv a manuallyreleasableraolr for .holding the handle bars in their closed relation inoppositionV to. the force of thev valve spring,- they rearwardlyconverging member of the upper jaw beingl parallel with; and on vertidport-iono-f :the .upper handle har, the l'orw ard werging Vportion 01':the lower handle bar and `4die Vre'arwa-:irdlyy converging'. member of'the lower jaw hein'g Vparallel with and on the laplaneol the'. forwardlyconverging end-oil the upper jaw havingfmeans for engaging the vtopofrtlie valve, and the forward end ol' thelower jaw having. means topass rthe vertical. plane of the forwardly con-Y below. the.valye-springig.y for compressing` said spring When the handle bars arepressedlin a direction towardeaoh other.

5f. A tool for compressing: a valve spring comprising upperand lower jawswhose rear portions are pvoted together and whose forward portionsare spaced apart and the lower'one.ofwhich. has a. pair of jaw membersremovably secured thereto, these jaw members beingfadapted to straddlethe valve stemA and liavinglips to enter within the vertical outer planeof' the: Valve' spring, and upper and lower handle bars Whose 'forwardends a-re'pivoted together andzerossrear portions of said. upper andlower'jaws andare pivotally securedthereto at points inerme dilate theyforward ends of the handle bars and the rear ends-ol saidv jaws, saidpair of jaw niemhers being loars setV on edgeV and near' their rearlportions spacedyapart by andfriveed to a spacing; block, leaving;` therear ends of' said hars in the form of a forli. straddlingA the main barof the lower jaw and reniovably secured thereto loyholts.

Signed ar New York. city, in the county of -`-New York and Statey ofNewV York, this 24th day of January, Aw D.I 1922 DQMINIGK GLERICO.

